Anne Solem: Mill Valley's housing dilemma

AS MAYOR of Mill Valley, I often am asked why I support the addition of more housing in our city. My answer is that we need and have a responsibility to provide affordable housing for our community.

Since 1990, only 217 homes have been added to our city's housing stock. Most are single-family detached homes available at ever-escalating prices. Today, the median price for a home in Mill Valley is more than $1.25 million. Very few individuals or families can qualify for loans to purchase homes at these prices. What does this mean for the future of our community and our environment?

I, like many of Mill Valley's residents, moved to our city with my young son 40 years ago because housing was affordable and the schools were excellent. Today, thanks to community participation, the schools are still excellent but Mill Valley is not affordable for young families, including our children; for our teachers, police officers, city employees, fire personnel; for those who work in our local businesses, including our contractors, plumbers, local merchants; and for retirees who wish to downsize and move into affordable senior housing.

How bad is it? Seniors wishing to move into The Redwoods, Mill Valley's fine senior housing complex, often have to wait up to eight years before a unit is available. Since 1999 in Marin, the median income has risen only 33 percent while single-family home prices have increased 88 percent and condominium prices are up 119 percent.

Mill Valley is a wonderful place to live because of its beautiful setting, its proximity to San Francisco, the quality of its schools and the diversity of its residents, among its other attributes. The quality of life in Mill Valley will diminish if we lose this diversity - the variety of individuals who enrich our community by their presence and participation - if the city becomes simply a privileged bastion.

Some say adding new housing will change the city's unique character.

I disagree. Well-planned housing designed to fit into appropriate neighborhoods will enhance it. A good example is Miller Avenue, which is a transportation corridor and has many parcels appropriate for higher-density housing. The keys are thoughtful planning, good design, working with neighbors and fitting the housing into the community.

City planners and the City Council are working to make sure any new housing meets these criteria.

The city is conducting an environmental review of its proposed Miller Avenue Precise Plan that will provide a blueprint for future development along that important corridor.

We recently completed our state-mandated housing element (a part of the city's General Plan). Consultants now are working on a traffic circulation study and a study of downtown traffic and parking.

City zoning and planning ordinances continue to be reviewed and updated.

Green building has been incorporated into the city's planning and design review processes. Energy-saving strategies, like solar, are emphasized.

Like any other community, we are often subject to unsubstantiated rumors that spread throughout the city. Currently, a number are circulating about what the city plans for Miller Avenue. Don't pay attention to the rumors.

All housing and any other development proposals for Miller Avenue or elsewhere in the community will undergo a thorough and open review. All residents are encouraged - urged - to attend the public meetings. Check our Web site - www.cityofmillvalley.org - for meeting times and dates. Listen to the proposals and make your views known. The city will host a open house workshop on housing at the Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 21, at which a model of the proposed Miller Avenue Precise Plan will be available for review. Comments and ideas will be solicited.

We have a responsibility to provide housing, transportation, schools, community facilities and businesses for a diverse population: young and old, families and singles, workers and retirees, artists and writers.

Working together, we can ensure we are successful both in meeting our housing needs and maintaining the unique quality that makes Mill Valley special. I ask for your help in building our future.